Parties For Every Age

Whether it's your pre-schooler who is celebrating a birthday or your junior high school student we've collected some ideas to help you keep your sanity.

No tea necessary. Your favorite kiddie-friendly beverages will work just fine.

Serve minature "tea sandwiches" tailored to your guests tastes — PB&J, ham and cheese, tuna, etc. cut into small triangles and artfully arranged on a platter. Try some of the authentic tea party sandwiches as well. You may be surprised when your child and her friends eat up cucumber and butter or olive and cream cheese sandwiches.

To drink, serve "tea" (which can be juice, water, lemonade, etc.) in a child's tea set.

For dessert, bake up a batch of cupcakes using a mini-muffin tin. Frost and decorate in your child's favorite color scheme. The birthday girl or boy gets a cupcake with candle in it, of course!

Ask guests to wear their favorite hat or bonnet for the occasion, and bring a favorite teddy bear or doll. Encourage guests to wear their favorite dress-up clothes.

Jewelry
Using a variety of inexpensive beads and string from the craft store, have the girls string their own necklaces to wear to the tea party.
Placemats
Using a large sheet of construction paper, paper doilies, markers, stickers, and other craft supplies, have the girls make their own placemats for tea. Remind them to leave room for their plates!
Make-up
Using play make-up, help the girls “gussie up” for the party.

Let the birthday girl serve food and “tea” to her guests.

Choose a book to read to the kids while they sip their “tea.”

Prepare questions ahead of time to spark conversation — the sillier the better!

-Where do butterflies drink tea?-What kind of animal would you like to be?-What do you want to be when you grow up?-Why is the sky blue?